Page 23 - Maharashtra

Maharashtra MPSC Group B prelims results 2025 declared at mpsc.gov.in

MPSC announced the Group B Prelims results 2025 at mpsc.gov.in. A total of 8179 candidates have qualified for the mains exam. Here's all you need to know

'It's about respect': CJI Gavai flags absence of officials in Maharashtra

CJI BR Gavai expressed disappointment over the absence of Maharashtra's top officials during his first visit to the state after taking charge as the 52nd Chief Justice of India

FIR filed against more than 100 people for unauthorised protests in Thane

A case has been registered against more than 100 people who participated in human chain protests allegedly held without permission in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Monday. Police on Saturday registered a first information report for the protests held at six places in the Mumbra area, an official said. He said the protests took place on the afternoon of May 16 despite the prohibitory orders imposed under the Maharashtra Police Act. The official said more than 100 people participated in the protests, disrupting traffic and violating lawful prohibitory orders. "No permission was granted for this protest. The organisers went ahead, potentially disturbing communal harmony and law and order," he said. The official said a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) the Maharashtra Police Act, and three accused have been identified. The agitation was held to protest an externment order against a local journalist, it was stated.

PM Modi mourns deaths in Solapur fire incident, announces ex-gratia relief

Prime Minister also announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia compensation to given to the next of kin of each deceased

Passengers slam MSRTC for fare disparity on e-buses with same amenities

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has invited the ire of passengers by charging higher fares for electric buses with the same features and facilities by giving them different brand names and colours. Experts and passengers have criticised the state-run corporation for the disparity in fares on the electric Shivneri and Shivai buses. The MSRTC, the country's largest state-run transport undertaking, operates a fleet of nearly 15,000 buses, ranging from non-AC services to premium air-conditioned electric coaches. In January this year, the Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) approved a 14.95 per cent hike in the MSRTC bus fares. The corporation charges Rs 21.25 per 6 km on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and Rs 15.15 for the white-green 'E-Shivai', both built on the Olectra CX2 platform that serves various intercity routes in Maharashtra since inducted in its fleet on a gross cost contract (GCC) model. According to MSRTC sources, the E-Shivneri fleet primarily .

Over 200 new health centres in Maharashtra remain shut due to fund crunch

More than 200 newly constructed primary health centres (PHCs) and sub-centres in Maharashtra are lying unused, as funds have not been allocated for essential supplies and staff, a senior official from the public health department said. PHCs and sub-centres are crucial to the rural healthcare system and are the first respondents during medical emergencies and outbreaks of diseases in villages, providing affordable treatment. They run national health programmes, including immunisation drives and provide essential care to women and children. The official said several PHCs and sub-centres built over the last four years have remained non-functional, as they haven't received funds for furniture, power connection and staff. "The department approved the construction of more than 400 primary health centres (PHCs) and sub-centres across the state between 2021 and 2025, and of these, 210 buildings have been constructed, but many remain non-functional," he said. The official said in some ...

NCP (SP) leader Patil seeks relief for farmers hit by unseasonal rain

Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil on Saturday expressed concern over farmers facing losses due to unseasonal rains and demanded immediate assistance for those affected. Patil said crops have been damaged due to unseasonal rainfall in several parts of the state, and the weather department has forecast more showers in the coming days. "The state is experiencing heavy unseasonal rainfall, with hailstorms reported in several regions. This has caused significant crop damage, and the meteorological department has predicted more rainfall in the coming days. I urge the government to provide immediate assistance to the affected farmers," he said in a statement. He cited a tragic incident in Manora, Washim district, where a farmer's produce was washed away in the downpour. Patil demanded that the government take swift action to provide relief and support to the affected farmers.

NIA arrests two members of ISIS sleeper cell's module from Mumbai airport

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two absconders allegedly part of a sleeper cell of terrorist outfit ISIS from Mumbai airport, officials said on Saturday. The duo were wanted in a 2023 case related to fabrication and testing of IEDs in Pune, Maharashtra, they said. The accused, identified as Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Khan, were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration at the Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2 last night when they tried to return to India from Jakarta, Indonesia, where they had been hiding, the officials said. The NIA team then took them into custody and arrested them, said a statement issued by the probe agency. The two accused had been on the run for more than two years and also had non-bailable warrants issued against them by the NIA Special Court, Mumbai. The NIA had also declared a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh each for information about the two accused. The case relates to a criminal conspiracy by these men, along

Maharashtra govt approves shipbuilding policy to develop maritime infra

The Maharashtra government has approved a shipbuilding policy to develop the state's maritime infrastructure and promote ship repair and recycling activities, an official said on Saturday. The Maharashtra Shipbuilding, Ship Repair, and Ship Recycling Facility Development Policy 2025 was approved in the last cabinet meeting, and a Government Resolution (GR) was issued on Friday, he said. The decision is expected to boost the shipbuilding, repair, and recycling industries and attract new projects. The move will also help the central government earn valuable foreign exchange. Recognising the significant importance of the maritime sector in driving economic and industrial growth, the state has identified the need to develop foundational infrastructure in this domain. While the government has the Maharashtra Maritime Development Policy 2023 to regulate and develop small ports along the state's coastline, the new policy now has provisions specifically for shipbuilding, repair, and ...

CJI BR Gavai's first verdict: Pune land scam exposed

New Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, has delivered his first judgment, and it’s a major exposé in the Pune land scam. Watch the video for all the details.

New SIT formed to probe Badlapur accused encounter case after SC order

The Director General of Maharashtra Police has formed a new special investigation team to probe the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case, an official said on Thursday. DGP Rashmi Shukla formed the SIT as per the Supreme Court's orders, he said. The SIT will be headed by Datta Shinde, Additional Commissioner of Police attached to Mira-Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police who is a deputy inspector general-rank official. It includes a deputy commissioner of police from Pimpri Chinchwad, an assistant commissioner of police, two senior inspectors -- one of them from Navi Mumbai, two assistant police inspectors, one sub inspector and an assistant sub-inspector. Besides the DCP and senior police inspector, all officers are from MBVV commissionerate, the official said. The SIT has taken in its possession all case-related documents from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) which was probing the case earlier, and started a fresh ...

Mock drill conducted in villages near Tarapur Atomic Power Station

A mock drill to test the preparedness of government agencies in the event of radiological and nuclear emergencies was conducted on Wednesday across 19 villages in the vicinity of the Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Palghar district of Maharashtra, officials said. The "National Mock Exercise" saw the distribution of 31,381 iodine tablets to citizens in the designated villages as a precautionary measure against radiation. Shelter facilities were activated for 940 residents whose homes were not deemed sufficiently protective, and a simulated evacuation of 45 citizens was carried out. "This comprehensive drill tested the coordinated response capabilities of multiple agencies and ensured the safety protocols for the surrounding population were robust and effective," said Palghar District Disaster Management Cell officer Vivekanand Kadam. The drill was jointly planned by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), New Delhi, and the Palghar District Disaster Management Authority .

Maharashtra's new EV policy may take 'toll' on toll operators' cash flows

Toll waivers on major highways may impact cash flows of operators like IRB, but low EV penetration and expected compensation make long-term effect minimal

Industrial boilers behind 7% of India's greenhouse gas emissions: Report

Boilers in India's factories release 182 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which is about 7 per cent of the country's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and over a quarter of all emissions from industries, according to a new report published on Wednesday. The report also said these boilers emit more particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) than the entire automobile sector in India, primarily due to weak emission standards. Industries such as food processing, chemicals and textiles depend on steam produced by process boilers to operate. The findings were released at the 'National Conclave on Greening Industrial Boilers in India', organised by the environment think tank iFOREST, in partnership with the Central government's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the labour department of the Uttar Pradesh government. To reduce pollution and help India meet its net zero targets, iFOREST has suggested launching a "Green Boiler Mission"

Sambhaji Maharaj Jayanti 2025: All about 'the Brave Maratha Warrior' & more

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's Jayanti is marked annually on May 14. After his father's death, Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, assumed leadership of the Maratha Kingdom

Nitin Gadkari urges new cooperative law to match changing economic needs

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday suggested the Maharashtra government to formulate a new law for the cooperative sector in the state considering the evolving economic conditions. The cooperative sector would play a key role in improving the financial condition of people from rural areas, he said, and urged the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, the apex cooperative bank in the state, to study the socio-economic impact of the cooperative movement in the state. Addressing a public function here, Gadkari said, "It is my request to Maharashtra chief minister and deputy chief minister to come up with a revised act for the cooperative sector. We must find a golden mean between the Cooperative Act and the Companies Act and formulate a new legislation accordingly." "There is a need to amend the laws governing cooperative establishments to align with evolving economic conditions," he said. The Road Transport and Highways Minister said the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank should ...

HC orders 2 YouTubers to delete 'defamatory' videos against BJP minister

The Bombay High Court has ordered deletion of six videos uploaded by two YouTubers against Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan, noting that they were "prima facie defamatory". A bench of Justice Arif Doctor in its order passed on May 8 said after having watched the videos, a case for grant of interim relief has been made out. "The statements made by defendants in the videos as discerned from the transcripts are in my prima facie view per se defamatory," the HC said. The court directed the defendants to immediately take down/delete the six videos uploaded by them on YouTube. It also restrained them from uploading any more such videos or posts that would be defamatory against Mahajan. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on June 20. Mahajan had filed a defamation suit against one Anil Thatte and one more person claiming that they had made false, reckless and unsubstantiated allegations against him. In an interim application, Mahajan

India won't compromise on terrorism; has capacity to wipe out Pak: Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said India has a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and possesses the capacity to wipe out Pakistan from the world map. His remarks come a day after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a strong message to Pakistan that there is zero tolerance against terrorism. India will not tolerate any compromise on terrorism," Shinde told reporters. India has got strength to deal with external threats, he said. "India holds the capacity to obliterate Pakistan from the world map. It should learn from India's firm stance," Shinde added. Pakistan should engage with India by taking into consideration its own limitations, the deputy CM said.

MSRTC to reintroduce 3x2 bus seating to boost revenue, passenger capacity

In a bid to increase its revenue and passenger capacity on its buses, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will bring back the 3x2 seating arrangement after more than 15 years, officials said on Sunday. Earlier this week, the transport body's board approved the purchase of 3,000 new buses with conventional 3x2 seating instead of the existing 2x2 arrangement in ordinary buses, they said. Talking to PTI, state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the 3x2 seating will bring more revenue to the corporation and give the passengers a comfortable ride, especially in rural areas. "Earlier, there were 52-55 seats in a bus, but now that number has come down to 40. So automatically, the requirement for buses went up, but the income per trip dropped. Hence, we decided to reintroduce 3x2 buses in the fleet." According to officials, this as a significant development, as it will help the loss-making corporation generate more revenue and enable it to carry more passengers per

FPOs empower women in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, boost financial stability

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have transformed lives and provided financial stability to women in rural areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar who once earned meagre wages as farm labourers. Women of Karmad, who until a few years ago received Rs 200-300 in daily wages after toiling away in farms, now earn up to Rs 2,000 per day working at drying and processing units under FPOs. Besides empowering women in the area, FPOs have also cut losses incurred by farmers when excess produce flooded the markets, forcing them to destroy some of it. Drying units for onions and corn have come up in the Karmad area, around 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, in the last couple of years, and they are part of a supply chain for hotels and food processing companies. Talking to PTI, Padmaja Vedpathak, who works with three other women in her corn processing unit, said, "We work seven days a week and earn around Rs 2,000 a day by processing three tonnes of corn daily. I used to earn Rs 300 a d